Yes, yesterday was my birthday. (I refer to it as the “anniversary of my 29th birthday.”) However, I spent most of the day scrubbing floors and toilets….

Last night was also my very last night in my Waikele home. After a long and arduous journey of selling, buying, cleaning, and moving, everything is finally coming to fruition. There were corrupt lawyers, alcoholic carpenters, injury-prone painters, late-night termite inspectors, and plumbing issues along the way. However, there were wonderful people and friends who helped me and supported me through it all. I’ll be moving into my new condo next week! Chee-hoo!

Last night gave me a chance to pause and reflect….
Yes, I’ll be moving into a brand new condo in a perfect location. I’ll be able to furnish it with new things. And yes, this will be a fresh new start for me. For that, I am very grateful.

However, as I was “saying goodbye” to this house, it dawned on me. My birthday blessing is not 909 Kapiolani. It is this house. I was able to live here with my dad for the past 12 years. We moved here as “strangers” and not getting along very well. In the time spent here, we became the best of friends. This house has been a blessing from God, and I will miss it….

Really! I kid you not! There are horses just across the street from my house. There’s this huge lot behind Waikele Elementary School. We saw them today from our Sunday School classes at HCWO.

You would think you’d kinda know your immediate neighborhood after living there for 10 years….

Of all the varieties of weeds in my yard, this is the one that I hate the most. I don’t know what it’s called. It has deep roots and an annoying yellow flower at the top. The flower seems to serve as the weed’s victory flag. It’s saying to me, “You dug me up, sprayed me with poison, and ran me over with your John Deere lawn mower. Is that the best you can do?”

This has become personal.

I’m on my way to Lowe’s Home & Garden to pick up a bottle of Roundup. We’ll see who gets the last laugh….

….is pretty sweet. The weather is always nice. We have the best neighbors, the Calbero’s on one side and the Nakashima’s on the other. Waikele is located in upper Waipahu near Pearl Harbor. I live about 20 minutes from town (50 minutes during rush hour.) Waikele is best known for its shopping center, The Waikele Premium Outlets.